A Guide to Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

As you have probably noticed, there are many non-cozy mystery authors included in these alphabetized author lists. In all of the mystery reading groups I have belonged to, whether the group was touted as a cozy mystery reading group or not, it seemed like we would always include books in the different mystery genres. There are cozies, of course, police procedurals, thrillers, hard-boiled, true crime, gritty/realistic/graphic mysteries, mysteries with amateur sleuths even mysteries featuring mystery-solving talking animal sleuths (à la Rita Mae Brown!).

There are mystery authors with all types of educational and professional backgrounds…. teachers, librarians, journalists, even district attorneys! And, of course, there are mystery series that are theme-based…. herbal, historical, crossword puzzles, bed and breakfasts, book store owners…. these are just a few of the many themes that cozy mystery authors have used.

An example of a theme-based series is the Needlecraft Mystery Series which is written by Monica Ferris, an author who I happen to follow. The Needlecraft Mystery Series features Betsy Devonshire, the owner of a needlepoint shop, which is where a lot of the mystery-solving takes place.

A theme sometimes is what brings a new reader to a series. But, if the author “can’t deliver the goods,” the series won’t thrive.

Nancy Fairbanks aka Nancy Herndon…Has MA from Rice… She has two very strong series: one is a comical police procedural (Elena Jarvis) and the other is a culinary mystery series.

Linda Fairstein Not Cozy… Fairstein served as Manhattan’s Sex Crimes Prosecution Chief for many years, and now has a bestselling series of books featuring an assistant D.A., who specializes in sex crimes.

Marnette Falley Falley is the author of the fourth Queen Bees Quilt Mystery Series books. (The quilting-themed mystery series was started by Sally Goldenbaum.)

Jerrilyn Farmer Farmer writes the Madeline Bean culinary mystery series which takes place in Hollywood and in 2009 she released her first mystery in the Red Carpet Murder Mystery Series which she is co-writing with Joan Rivers!

Sharon Farrow (aka 1/2 of D.E. Ireland) Farrow writes the Berry Basket Mystery Series which takes place near Lake Michigan and features a berry shop owner. Ireland is the pseudonym used by two authors – Meg Mims and Sharon Pisacreta (aka Sharon Farrow). As Ireland, they write the Eliza Doolitttle and Henry Higgins Mystery Series, in which Eliza teams up with Professor Higgins to sleuth in Edwardian London.

Connie Feddersen Feddersen writes the Amanda Hazard Mystery Series which is set in Oklahoma and features a CPA/Sleuth…

Vickie Fee – Vickie Fee spent much of her early life in Tennessee, growing up in Memphis and earning her degree in journalism. She then worked for various small Southern newspapers before starting her Liv and Di in Dixie Mystery Series, starring a party planner named Liv McKay and her best friend Di Souther, who live in the fictional town of Dixie, Tennessee.

Mary Feliz Feliz has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and has worked in corporate communications. Even though she has lived in five states and two countries, she considers Silicon Valley in California to be her home. She writes the Maggie McDonald Mystery Series, which stars a professional organizer, wife, and mother who has a tendency to stumble on incriminating evidence in the course of her job.

Monica Ferris aka Mary Monica Pulver & half of the duo who wrote as Margaret Frazer for the first of the Sister Frevisse novels. For all of the cozy mystery fans who enjoy needlework, Ferris writes the Needlecraft Mystery Series. I happen to be one of the many needle-working, cozy-reading people who truly enjoy her Needlecraft Mystery Series!

Chrystle Fiedler Fiedler, a Boston University grad with a communications major, writes the Natural Remedies Mystery Series which features, as its sleuth, Willow McQuade, N. D. (Naturopathic Doctor). This mystery series has the added benefit of also including natural remedies like yoga, herb and flower uses, and meditation.

Sharon Fiffer Fiffer writes non-fiction with (and without) her husband, Steve, but her Jane Wheel mystery series is solely her own gem. She has also taught writing at the college level.

Christy Fifield (aka Christy Evans) Fifield writes the Haunted Souvenir Shop Mystery Series, which has, as its sleuth, the owner of a Florida souvenir shop. As Evans, she writes the Georgiana Neveral Mystery Series, which features an apprentice plumber in Oregon.

Charles Finch Finch was nominated for the 2007 Agatha Award for Best First Novel, which is a huge accomplishment! (The Agatha Awards are named after Agatha Christie, and are the most Cozy of mystery awards.) His Charles Lenox Mystery Series is set in London, during the 1860s.

Kay Finch – Kay Finch, a paralegal, may have grown up in rural Pennsylvania, but she now makes her home in Houston, Texas. She has set both her Bad Luck Cat Mystery Series (which features Sabrina Tate, and aspiring mystery author) and her Corie McKenna Mystery Series(which features a private investigator) in Texas.

Honora Finkelstein Finkelstein writes the Ariel Quigley mystery series with Susan Smily. Finkelstein has a Ph. D. in English and has had several different careers, working as an intelligence officer with the Navy, a professor, and a newspaper editor (among her other jobs.) The Finkelstein/Smily series is unusual in that each mystery novel has a recipe book that features the recipes described/used in the novel.

Janet Finsilver – Janet Finsilver has had a number of careers before becoming an author. She was a teacher as well as a program administrator, and also a member of the National Ski Patrol! Janet Finsilver is the author of the Kelly Jackson Mystery Series, which stars Kelly, the manager of a northern California Bed and Breakfast.

Eve Fisher Fisher is one of the authors who pens a Mystery and the Minister’s Wife book. This series is unique in that each book is written by different authors (some of the authors pen more than one book in the series.) Other authors of the series include Diane Noble, Traci DePree, Beth Pattillo, & Carol Cox. It is an inspirational mystery series…

Judy Fitzwater Her first series (the “Dying to …”) is a cozy, while her new series is described as a thriller, with plenty of action and adventure.

“Jessica Fletcher” of Murder, She Wrote…(with Donald Bain and Jon Land) I think almost everyone knows who Jessica Fletcher is! She’s a retired high school teacher who currently writes mystery books. She also solves mysteries. Some bookstores insist on putting the “Murder, She Wrote” books in the “F” (as in Fletcher) section. Well, I have gone ahead and added it to the F section of this site, as well, since that’s where some people expect to find the Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series.

Shamini Flint Flint is a former lawyer who took up writing because it is a career that still allows her to be a full time mom. Though more well known for her children’s series, the Sasha Series and the Diary Series, she is also the author of the Inspector Singh Investigates Mystery Series. This series stars Inspector Singh, an over weight, bumbling, but highly talented Singaporean detective whose work takes him to various Asian locations to help solve various cases.

Amanda Flower (aka Isabella Alan) Flower, a librarian at a small college, writes the Amish Candy Shop Mystery Series which is set in Ohio and features Bailey King, a chocolatier – and the series has recipes in it. She also writes the Magical Bookshop Mystery Series which features Violet, who works in her grandmom’s magical bookstore and the Living History Museum Mystery Series which features Kelsey Cambridge, the director of a museum in Ohio. Flower also writes the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series. This series takes place in Ohio Amish country, and features a sleuth who works at a college in the computer field. Along with the above series, she writes the Magic Garden Mystery Series which is set in Scotland and features Fiona Knox, a florist from the USA. Flower also writes the the India Hayes Mystery Series which features a college librarian/sleuth. And, finally, Flower writes the Andi Boggs Mystery Series for children. As Isabella Alan she writes the Amish Quilt Shop Mystery Series.

Jean Flowers (aka Camille Minichino, Margaret Grace, & Ada Madison) Flowers writes the Postmistress Mystery Series, which features sleuth, Cassie Miller. Cassie left her job as manager of Boston’s main post office, to take the job of Postmistress in her home town’s post office in Massachusetts. As Grace she writes the Miniature Mystery Series, featuring dollhouse miniaturist Geraldine Porter as its sleuth. As Minichino she writes the Periodic Table Mystery Series – a series about a physicist/sleuth. As Madison, she writes the Sophie Knowles Mystery Series – which features a college mathematics professor/beader/sleuth.

Joanne Fluke I started reading Fluke’s series when it was called the Cookie Jar series, however it is now known as the Hannah Swensen Mystery series. I enjoy the series, and especially like Hannah, the no-nonsense sleuth who also is the owner of a bakery. Fluke worked as a caterer and cook, and she also has taught school, as well as held several other jobs… including working as a private detective’s assistant!

Chris Forman An English and Social Studies teacher, Forman now pens the Maria Hart Mystery series which is about a Chicago insurance investigator. Also, Forman writes the Port City Mystery Series which revolves around Ian Wallace, a North Carolina food writer and photographer sleuth.

Christopher Fowler I have not read any of his books…. yet. In the research I did, I found that he is able to interweave life in London in the 1940s with today’s life in London.

Earlene Fowler The Benni Harper series features a museum curator, quilter/cowgirl sleuth. Fowler also writes the Ruby McGavin Mystery Series which features a Califonia ranch owner.

Sarah Fox Fox is from Vancouver, British Columbia, and is a legal writer. She is the author of the Pancake House Mystery Series, which stars Marley McKinney, manager of a pancake house. Recipes are included in the Pancake House series. She also writes the Music Lover’s Mystery Series, which stars Midori Bishop, a violinist in a philharmonic orchestra. She also writes the Literary Pub Mystery Series which takes place in Vermont and features a pub owner who caters to book groups and other literary lovers.

Dick Francis Not Cozy… Francis was a champion jockey in Great Britain, even riding for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. He suffered an injury which caused him to retire, but he then took his love for horse racing and began a very successful career writing mysteries that take place in the world of horse racing. (On the Crime Writers’ Association Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time)

Anthea Fraser Both of her series are set in England… Detective Chief Inspector David Webb and biographer Rona Parish.

Antonia Fraser Lady Antonia Fraser is Oxford-educated, and is best known for the historical biographies she writes. Her mystery novels feature Jemima Shore, a television investigative reporter.

Gail Fraser Before writing the Lumby Series, Fraser worked in corporate America. (She has her MBA.) Although her Lumby Series is not a mystery series, it has been recommended for the site… If you like Jan Karon’s Mitford Series, you might enjoy Fraser’s Lumby Series…

Margaret Frazer aka Mary Monica Pulver (Monica Ferris) & Gail Frazer… This is confusing, but I will try to explain: Margaret Frazer was the collaboration of two women: Mary Monica Pulver and Gail Frazer. They split their writing duo after the sixth Sister Frevisse Medieval Mystery Series novel.. Gail Frazer is now Margaret Frazer… Frazer also writes the Joliffe the Player Mystery Series which is set in 15th century England.

Shelly Fredman Fredman, when not teaching elementary school, writes the Brandy Alexander Mystery Series which features a Journalist who returns home to Philadelphia.

Christina Freeburn Freeburn worked for the JAG (Judge Advocate General) in the US army as a legal specialist. She has also worked as a paralegal, a librarian, stay-at-home mom, and also a church secretary before taking up writing Cozy Mysteries and romance novels. Her Cozy series, the Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery Series, stars Faith Hunter, a former JAG legal specialist now running her grandmother’s scrapbooking store. (Christina also has a passion for scrapbooking!)

Christy Tillery French French writes the Natasha Chamberlain Mystery Series which features a female bodyguard in Tennessee.

Linda French French is a history professor who lives in Washington state. She held the record in Georgia for the backstroke, and now enjoys swimming in Puget Sound. She writes the Professor Teodora Morelli Mystery Series which features an athletic history professor in Washington state.

Shelley Freydont Freydont is a retired dancer with both her BFA and MFA from the University of Utah, who writes the Lindy Haggerty series. Lindy happens to be a retired dancer, also. And, as of 2007 Freydont now writes a Sudoku mystery series for all of you Sudoku fans! Freydont also writes the Celebration Bay Mystery Series which has, as its sleuth, an event planner in New York.

Kinky Friedman Not cozy…. Kinky Friedman, who along with writing a mystery series that features a country western singer/sleuth, may also be famous for running for governor of Texas in 2006.

Susan Froetschel With her M.P.A. from the JFK School of Government at Harvard, Froetschel is now a faculty member in the Journalism Department at Southern Connecticut State University. She has penned two Alaskan mysteries, as well as worked as a reporter.

Sara Hoskinson Frommer Frommer has her degree in German, is a quilter and charter member of a symphony’s viola section. Her heroine Joan Spencer also plays the viola while sleuthing.

Agatha Frost Frost writes the Peridale Cafe Mystery Series which takes place in England and features Julia South, a cafe owner. Frost also writes the Scarlet Cove Seaside Mystery Series (with Evelyn Amber) which features Liz Jones, a retired detective who owns a craft store in England.

Jacqueline Frost (aka Julie Chase & Julie Anne Lindsey) As Jacqueline Frost she writes the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Series which takes place on Holly White’s family tree farm in Maine, in a town names Mistletoe. As Julie Chase she writes the Kitty Couture Mystery Series which features Lacy Marie Crocker, the owner of a pet boutique and organic treat bakery for pets in New Orleans. As Julie Anne Lindsey she writes the Cider Shop Mystery Series, the Geek Girl Mystery Series, the Patience Price Mystery Series, and the Protectors of Cade County Series.

Susan Furlong (aka Lucy Arlington, Susan Furlong-Bolliger, & S. Furlong-Bolliger) Furlong is taking over the writing duties as Lucy Arlington, from Jennifer Stanley (aka J.B. Stanley & Ellery Adams) and Sylvia May, starting with the 4th Novel Idea Mystery Series’ book. Furlong writes the Georgia Peach Mystery Series, which features Nola Harper. Nola works on her family orchard in a small town in Georgia. Furlong is also the author of the Pippi O’Brien Mystery Series and she has written several Untreed Reads’ mystery stories. Furlong also writes the Bone Gap Travellers Mystery Series which features Brynn is an ex-Marine with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder who returns to Tennessee with her cadaver dog, Wilco.

Frances Fyfield aka Frances Hegarty… Two British series from which to pick…..